The Playwright's Love | |
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![]() The playwright trimming his cuffs with scissors | |
Produced by | Thanhouser Company |
Release date |
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Country | United States |
Languages | Silent film English inter-titles |
The Playwright's Love is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on a poor playwright named John Russell who is approached by a poor dying woman. Upon her death, John takes guardianship of her daughter named Grace. A decade passes and Grace becomes a young woman as John struggles with his love for her. Then, a suitor approaches Grace and is denied because she loves John. When John learns of this, he proposes to her and is accepted. Released on July 19, 1910, the film received positive reception by film critics. One reviewer noted the similarity to other productions and another reviewer said the film recalled The Prince Chap . The film is presumed lost.
Though the film is presumed lost, a synopsis survives in The Moving Picture World from July 23, 1910. It states: "John Russell, an unsuccessful playwright, is in straitened circumstances, but is generous despite his poverty. When a poor woman falls exhausted at his doorway he takes her in, and after her death he cares for her child. This kind of action seems to bring him luck, for a play that he had been unable to dispose of is sold for a good sum and he starts on the high road to prosperity. Ten years later when the girl is grown to womanhood, John finds that he is deeply in love with his ward, but does not betray his passion, believing that it is hopeless. His eyes are opened, however, by Will, who is in love with Grace, and is told by her when she refuses him that she loves John. When John hears this he promptly proposes and is as promptly accepted by the girl." [1]
The writer of the scenario is unknown, but it was most likely Lloyd Lonergan. He was an experienced newspaperman employed by The New York Evening World while writing scripts for the Thanhouser productions. [2] The New York Dramatic Mirror points out the plot of the film resembles a popular stage production The Prince Chap from several years ago. [1] The plot of the play bear striking familiarities to the Thanhouser production. The play focuses on William Peyton, a sculptor, who takes in a young girl, Claudia, at the request of her dying mother. Claudia grows into a young woman, rejects her suitor, and concludes with Claudia and Peyton deciding to marry. [3] Another mention of this film in The Morning Telegraph stated, "This story has been told many times in pictures, excepting in this film the character is a playwright." [1] The film director and the cameraman are unknown, but the "Thanhouser Kid" Marie Eline is the only known credit in the cast. [1] Eline plays the role of the young orphan Grace. Other members cast may have included the other leading players of the Thanhouser productions, Anna Rosemond, Frank H. Crane and Violet Heming. [4] [5] [6] A surviving film still shows the playwright in the process of trimming his cuffs with scissors before an interview, leaving hope that another credit may be attributed to the lost film. [1]
Despite the lack of production details, the quality of the Thanhouser films in general stood out amongst the Independent producers. An editorial by "The Spectator" in The New York Dramatic Mirror contained specific praise for Thanhouser productions by stating, "...practically all other Independent American companies, excepting Thanhouser, show haste and lack of thought in their production. Crude stories are crudely handled, giving the impression that they are rushed through in a hurry - anything to get a thousand feet of negative ready for the market. Such pictures, of course, do not cost much to produce, but they are not of a class to make reputation. The Thanhouser company, alone of the Independents, shows a consistent effort to do things worthwhile..." [7] The editorial warned that American audiences were not subject to be entertained by the novelty of moving images and cautioned the Independents that there was distinct danger in quantity over quality. [7] The editorial was written by Frank E. Woods of the American Biograph Company, a Licensed company, and like the publication itself had a considerable slant to the Licensed companies. [8]
The one reel drama, approximately 950 feet long, was released on July 22, 1910. [1] The film had known showings in Indiana, [9] and Maryland. [10] The film was advertised, possibly in error, as simply Playwright's Love and A Playwright's Love. [11] [12] The film received numerous reviews in the trade publications and most were positive. The Moving Picture News review was positive and stated, "Love knows neither creed nor class, and when the unsuccessful playwright falls in love with the daughter of a woman whom he had taken a charitable interest in at the time of her death, the fact is not to be wondered at. He plays a noble part and is rewarded as the film reaches it[s] final scene. The story is rich in feeling and sympathy, the settings are touching and appropriate and the photography is pretty good." [1] Another review in the publication agreed that the film was another high-quality Thanhouser release. [1] The Moving Picture World spared only a brief summary of the film with a simple approval for the romantic story. [1] The New York Dramatic Mirror found another reason that the film was worth seeing - the absence of a villain. [1]
The Thanhouser Company was one of the first motion picture studios, founded in 1909 by Edwin Thanhouser, his wife Gertrude and his brother-in-law Lloyd Lonergan. It operated in New York City until 1920, producing over a thousand films.
The Best Man Wins is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film features Thanhouser's leading players Anna Rosemond, Martin Faust, Frank H. Crane and Marie Eline in a drama about morality. Two suitors are vying for the hand of Julia Seaton and propose to her on the same day, but she asks for a month to decide between them. In the time, the caliber of both men are tested when asked by a young girl, named May, to help her dying mother. The doctor refuses to help, and the lawyer offers his assistance, but her mother soon dies. The orphan is taken in by the Seaton family and personally attests to the character of both men when Julia Seaton has to choose between her suitors.
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Lena Rivers is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film follows a young woman who leaves home to search for employment and becoming married to a wealthy man, but the marriage is kept secret. The husband is arrested by mistake and by the time he is freed, his wife and child depart and he believes them dead. The young woman entrusts her baby, Lena, to her mother before her death. At age 16, Lena goes to the city is visited by her father, but the relationship is only known when he sees a picture of her mother in her locket. The film was an adaptation of Mary Jane Holmes' 1856 novel Lena Rivers and was released on August 12, 1910. It had a wide national release and received positive reviews from critics.
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The Little Fire Chief is a 1910 American silent short comedy produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on a young boy, Willie Stone, who follows a parade of firemen and attempts to join them as their leader. The firemen find it humorous and allow him to play with them. The fire alarm sounds and Willie attempts to join them, but is too slow. On their way back, Willie holds them up and his sister appears. A fireman named Jack, who has affections for the woman, convinces Willie to be relieved of his "command" by promising to call him later. Marie Eline played the role of Willie Stone, but the other two credits are claimed to have been William Garwood and Mignon Anderson. The rest of the cast and credits are unknown. The film was released on November 8, 1910 and does not appear to have had any reviews in the usual trade publications. The film was advertised nationally and was claimed to have been popular in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The film is presumed lost.
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The Wild Flower and the Rose is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on Frank Wilson, the son of an inventor who has constructed a new airplane model. After failing to secure financing, his father suggests that he marry Rose, the daughter of his wealthy employer, to get the money they need. Jack rejects this idea because he is engaged to another woman, but he soon learns she does not love him. He heads out West to seek a fortune and is quickly successful. He returns to the aviation field and meets Rose again, after a successful flight she confesses to loving him. The cast and staff credits are unknown, but the film may have included scenes from the 1910 International Aviation Meet at Belmont Park One reviewer claimed that a Wright brothers flyer was also shown in full flight. The film was released on November 25, 1910, but is now presumed lost.
Love and Law is a 1910 American silent short drama produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film begins with a meeting between Tom Egan and Sue Jennings. Sue asks Tom, who had previously been sweethearts, for each others' love letters because she will soon marry another man. On this same night, Jack Deming confronts Tom in a drunken state and brandishing a revolver. Jack seeks vengeance because was put into financial ruin by Tom's speculative advice, but Tom manages to calm him down. Tom pens a letter to Sue and takes his own life, making it appear as if Jack murdered him. Jack is arrested, but a young detective named Violet Gray proves his innocence. Jack and Violet also fall in love. The role of Violet Gray was played by Julia M. Taylor, but the other roles and staff credits are unknown. The film was released on December 13, 1910, it would be the first of four films in the "Violet Gray, Detective" series. The film is presumed lost.
Bertie's Brainstorm is a 1911 American silent short drama film produced by the Thanhouser Company. The film focuses on Bertie Fawcett, a dim-witted fop, who erroneously believes to have won the heart of May Vernon. In reality, May loves Jack and the two are set to be married, but May's father wishes he would prove his worth by earning his own living. Bertie chances upon the letter and sets off to make a living proceeds through a number of jobs with hope to claim May as his bride. The film ends with Bertie returning and finding out that May has married Jack. Little is known about the production of the film save that William Russell played an unknown role and that the scenario was written by Lloyd F. Lonergan. The foppish character of Bertie may have been inspired by Edwin Thanhouser's role as Bertie Nizril in Thoroughbred. Originally conceived as a series, this ultimately singular work received praise from critics. The film is presumed lost.